US President Donald Trump on Tuesday brushed off criticism over the demolition of part of the White House to build a new ballroom, saying the sound of the construction work was “music to my ears.”

Democrats have accused the Republican president of failing to respect the presidential mansion, after pictures emerged of excavators tearing off the facade of the East Wing of the building.

As AFP journalists observed the demolition continue on Tuesday, Democrats also criticised him for pushing ahead with a $ 250 million plan. At the same time, Americans face a government shutdown and a high cost of living.

But the 79-year-old property mogul insisted that the work needed to be done, and said that taxpayers would not pay for any of it.

The US president has said that he is partly funding work on the giant ballroom, while private and corporate donors will cover the rest.

Last week, Trump hosted a glitzy dinner for donors with guests including several top US tech firms, but the White House has not released a list yet or given any figures.

The White House rejected what it called “pearl-clutching” from critics.

“In the latest instance of manufactured outrage, unhinged leftists and their Fake News allies are clutching their pearls over President Donald J. Trump’s visionary addition of a grand, privately funded ballroom to the White House,” it said in a statement.

It called the ballroom a “bold, necessary addition that echoes the storied history of improvements and renovations from commanders-in-chief to keep the executive residence as a beacon of American excellence.”

The White House also pointed out a series of works done by previous presidents — including what it said was President Barack Obama upgrading the tennis court into a full basketball court.

Trump has launched a major makeover of the White House in his second term, including paving over the Rose Garden where he hosted the Republican senators.

Democrats lashed out at Trump over the demolition work, comparing it to his own radical efforts to reshape the federal government and target his political opponents.

“The demolition of the East Wing feels very symbolic of what Trump is doing to our democracy,” Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono said on X. “He’ll lie about protecting it, then destroy it right in front of your face.”

Senior Senator Elizabeth Warren said that while Americans faced a “skyrocketing” cost of living, Donald Trump can’t hear you over the sound of bulldozers demolishing a wing of the White House to build a new grand ballroom.”

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will meet US President Donald Trump during a three-day visit to Washington next month, a source close to the government told AFP on Tuesday.

Crown Prince Salman will arrive on November 17 and discuss political, economic and security files with Trump the following day, the source said on condition of anonymity.

The crown prince’s trip was revealed days into a fragile Gaza ceasefire brokered by Trump that was warmly welcomed by Saudi Arabia.

Some media reports suggest Saudi Arabia is hoping for a US security agreement after Trump’s executive order this month pledging to defend its neighbour Qatar from attacks.

The visit by the crown prince, often known by his initials MBS, follows Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia in May during the first foreign tour of his second term.

Trump was treated to a lavish welcome by the Saudis, who promised $600 billion in deals ranging from defence to artificial intelligence.

Saudi Arabia and the US have enjoyed a close relationship for decades based on privileged access to Saudi oil reserves in exchange for military protection.

The Kingdom has spearheaded moves championing statehood for the Palestinians, including organising a UN conference along with France in July.

Last month, the two countries’ “New York Declaration” supporting a Hamas-free Palestinian state was backed in a vote by the United Nations General Assembly.

VIENNA: Austria deported an Afghan national back to his home country on Tuesday for the first time since the Taliban seized power there four years ago, and the conservative-led coalition government in Vienna said that more would follow soon.

The government has made fighting illegal immigration a top priority, apparently seeking to erode support for the far-right Freedom Party, or FPO, by focusing on one of its core issues.

The three-party ruling coalition of centrist parties took office in March after the FPO won a parliamentary election but failed to form a governing alliance. The FPO has maintained its lead in opinion polls.

“This morning, a man convicted of serious crimes was deported to Kabul — the first deportation to Afghanistan since 2021,” Chancellor Christian Stocker of the conservative Austrian People’s Party wrote on X.

“Austria is thus sending a clear message: zero tolerance for anyone who has forfeited their right to remain by committing criminal offences,” he added.

In July, Austria became the first European Union country to deport a Syrian back to their home country since the civil war there broke out, despite objections by human rights groups that it was too soon to know if it was safe to do so.

Austria has been saying for months that it hopes to resume deportations to Afghanistan despite similar objections.

Amnesty International said in a statement that Afghanistan remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world.

“Anyone who deports people to a state that commits crimes against its own people is deliberately denying protection and breaking the law,” it said, adding: “This betrayal of human rights must be stopped immediately!”

Syria and Afghanistan are the top countries of origin of asylum-seekers in Austria. The government has said that initially those deported will primarily be criminal offenders.

“The Interior Ministry under Gerhard Karner is preparing further deportations,” Stocker said.

The deportation comes just a day after the European Union said that it has “initiated exploratory contacts” with the Taliban regime to boost deportations of failed asylum seekers.

A majority of EU nations had urged Brussels to reach out to Kabul to boost expulsions.

In a letter initiated by Belgium, 20 EU member states urged the European Commission to take action to enable both voluntary and forced returns of Afghans with no right to stay.